You can easily replace your broken floor tile yourself without damaging any of the surrounding tiles. Follow these steps I followed right after hiring an expert St. Charles, MO basement finishing colleague to fix tiles in my basement; few weeks later, I incidentally broke one of them and I had no choice than to repair it myself to avoid further expenses. The process was very effective and easy to follow;

1. The broken tile should be removed from the floor.

Use a chisel to remove the broken tile. Put down drop sheets to protect all your surfaces from flying tile chips. Cover the centre of the broken tile with masking tape and then use a tile bit to drill in four or five holes. Use a chisel to chip away the middle of the tile and then wedge the chisel under the tile to gently pry it off, piece by piece

2. Clean the space where the broken tile was removed.

Use a grout removing tool to scrape the grout from the edges of the surrounding tiles. Chipping the old glue away with a paint scraper and sweep the area until you can see a dust free and solid surface.

3. Make sure the replacement tile fits properly

Place the replacement tile in place to ensure that it fits properly.

4. Install the new tile

Mix the glue you will be using to a toothpaste consistency. Cover the back of the new tile and then run a notched trowel across it. Place the new tile into the gap and press it down gently, make sure it sits evenly with the other tiles around it. Place masking tape across the tile and wait for the glue to dry.

5. Grout the replacement tile

The next step is to remove the masking tape. If there are any excess glue in the gaps between the tiles, clean it up with a nylon scraper. Mix the grout, push it into the gaps between the tiles and smoothen it with a grout squeegee. For best results, run the squeegee across the gaps at a 45˚ angle.

6. Clean the excess grout off the tile

Leave the grout to dry for 20 minutes, then use a clean and damp sponge to wipe off the excess. If you are using the squeegee, you will get the best results if you run it across the tile at 45˚ angle. Rinse the sponge after every stroke to keep it clean and also squeeze it out so that it won’t be too wet. You can walk on the tile once the grout has cured for 24 hours.

A pressure washer is a tool that can be used to clean your property. It can remove graffiti and any unwanted dirt and debris on the side of your home or on the fencing. However, It can only do these when it is working properly. Therefore, it is important to know pressure washing repair and how to troubleshoot the equipment.

1. Low Pressure

Low pressure for a pressure washer is mostly caused by an incorrect or worn out nozzle. Ensure that there is water coming to the equipment properly because a hose going up a hill will delay water pressure from arriving. Worn out or broken nozzles should be replaced as soon as they are discovered.

2. If pressure washer Is running very rough

The number one reason why a pressure washer can start running rougher than usual is if the inlet water is too hot. To get the best results, use cold water. If you aren’t using hot water and everything looks fine, then it’s likely you’ve got mechanical damage within your crankcase and this is not a problem you can generally repair on your own.

3. Leaking Pressure Washer

Worn out seal is one of the most common problems in pressure washer repair. There are several seals distributed throughout the design of the pressure washer and the leakage could be caused by the failure of any of the seals. It is not only water that can leak, oil leaks are also common.

Check your seals at least twice in a year and replace any one that looks worn out. Leaks can also be caused by worn out plungers or packing. This can happen after using the pressure washer for a while. You will need to replace the damaged seals it is the cause for the problem.

4. Pulsating pressure washer

This is mostly caused because of a dirty discharge valve or inlet. Be sure to clean these out thoroughly after using it for 5 to 6 times.

5. Pressure washer not starting

If you have fuel and oil in your pressure washer, the next thing to check is the primer pump. The fuel primer for the engine needs to be pumped 6-7 times on the first start-up of the season and about 3 times for every other start-up.

There are some electric pressure washers that won’t start either. This is usually caused by inadequate power supply attached to the equipment.

Those are the common problems most pressure washer faces, need more detail; just hang around, I will be running another post from an interview with an Internet friend who actually deal on machines used for power washing in St. Louis. he will be highlighting some experience gotten from running a closely related business as our topic

If your cement garage floor has cracked, it can cause a safety hazard and then lead to greater problems if it is not repaired correctly. It is a simple project to investigate cause of crack and to address it with the correct technique.

Consider the main cause

Consider the actual cause of the crack before you attempt to repair it so as to prevent damages in the future. There is no point in repairing the crack if the floor is going to open up again in a few months’ time. A good example is if there are large trees near your garage. They may have roots that reach under the floor that is disturbing the cement and causing it to crack.

Cracks can also be caused by standing water. If water is allowed to freeze, the resulting ice expands and then widens any tiny crack it has seeped into, quickly damaging the concrete floor. If a foundation is not constructed properly, it can also the floor to crack.

Clean the floor to assess the extent of the damage

Sweep the garage floor and also remove any loose cement and debris with a wire brush. If there are oil or grease stain on your cement garage floor, clean it with a solution of Trisodium Phosphate and water. Mix as suggested in the manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure to protect your eyes and skin if you use this product.

Repair small cracks

Use regular cement to repair a small crack in a cement garage floor. Mix the cement with water to form a paste like that of toothpaste. This should be applied to the crack with a putty knife, then smooth the surface off to be level with the rest of the floor. Allow the repaired area to dry a little and then cover with a plastic tarpaulin or sheet. If the cement dries too quickly, there is always a risk of it cracking again, therefore, ensure you sprinkle few drops of water on the repaired area every day till the surface is perfect.

To repair larger cracks

You will need a more advanced product–latex cement if the crack in your cement garage floor is bigger than a hairline. This product is better for this kind of repair because it expands and contracts with humidity and temperature, and it won’t lead to further problems. This kind of cement comes in straightforward kits that are easy to apply. Mix the cement and latex together and apply the mixture in layers to the crack. Leave a few minutes in between each layer if needed. Level it to the rest of the floor. At this stage, if the crack extends to the door way, you must be careful not to ulter the structure so to still enable garage door installation, if you are finding this stage difficult, you can as well hire a professional to finish the process.

There are many reasons to replace carpet with hardwood flooring. These includes adding value and style, durability, ease of maintenance and sustainability. But some things have to be taken into consideration before tearing out your carpet.

How moisture levels affect hardwood flooring installation

Moisture is a critical area of concern, especially in areas that have low elevation and environments with high humidity. Moisture testing is the best way to make sure that your floor look and function at its best, thereby, protecting your investment. To ensure that humidity from the ground never reach your wood floor, cover the ground under your crawl space with a plastic sheeting. If you know your moisture levels in advance, you can use proper adhesives to achieve a quality hardwood floor that will last for 50 to 100 years.

Costs of installing hardwood floor

Installation of hardwood flooring is more complicated than just replacing carpet.

Cost of project: hardwood is a sound investment with premium product. To ensure that there are no unknown costs,discuss your total budget with your flooring professional. Labor, cleaning, tax, shipping, adhesive, furniture moving, etc are all costs to be considered.

Processes involved in hardwood flooring

Once you’ve finalized your project, begin the installation process. The process is as follows:

Preparation – Move the furniture and existing flooring. Examine surface areas for imperfections and address as needed. Install the new flooring material including transitions and any baseboard or trim that needs to be reinstalled.

Clean the area and put the furnitures back into place.

If you want a completed and satisfactory job, discuss in details potential issues and how they should be addressed with your installer.

Hardwood Floor Matching

If there are hardwood flooring in some areas of your home already and you are looking to add more, trying to match the two surfaces is mostly impossible. Your existing floor will show signs of age, even if you find the exact material from the same manufacturer.

Because the human eye is very percept at picking up little changes, it can be distracting to have two areas of your flooring to have a close appearance but not matching. The best thing to do is to use designs and methods that will break up the transition so that your eye can view the sections as separate but complementary zones. Professionals with enough experience can guide you through this process and also provide several options for the best functional and aesthetic outcome.

Choose alternate colors and materials that will work well with the existing flooring and the room itself.

Also, wood transitions should be installed on purpose so as to break up the sections in order for the flooring not to appear as a poor match attempt. And above all these mentions, it’s still very important that one always take good care of their floor whether carpet, by hiring a good carpet cleaner, or the hardwood. That way, either option will always look good.

Whеnеvеr уоu have a ѕрill on саrреt, it’ѕ сruсiаl thаt you сlеаn it аѕ ԛuiсklу аnd as thoroughly as роѕѕiblе, ѕо thаt it does nоt сrеаtе a ѕtаin. Fоrtunаtеlу, this does not require you hiring a carpet cleaner with a carpet stain rеmоvеr, уоu саn thоrоughlу clean аnу nеw ѕрillѕ оr set-in stains in a matter of ѕесоndѕ.